Kingsmen rally around pitching, defense

Putnam wins 1-0 at West Linn

Putnam's summer OIBA baseball team rallied around its pitchers and defense to drop Class 6A West Linn 1-0 in a game at West Linn on Friday.

Putnam pitchers Evan Lochridge, Justin Wyler and Max Bailey combined to throw a two-hitter, while their teammates supported them with near error-free defense.

"We threw our three best pitchers and they threw really well," said Putnam coach Jason Stanley. "They threw strikes and we made only one error."

Wyler and sophomore-to-be Eamon Gallagher teamed up to score the game's only run in the top of the first. Gallagher led off the game with a base hit and stole second. Wyler walked later in the inning to set up a first-and-third situation. Gallagher then scored as West Linn's catcher threw the ball into the outfield on a double steal.

The Lions threatened late in the game, advancing a runner to second with one out. The next batter tagged a single to the fence in left field. Putnam junior left fielder Trevor Stofil chased the ball down and then hit Wyler on the cutoff. Wyler relayed the ball to Nathan Edwards who tagged out the runner in a rundown between third and home to end the threat.

"If Trevor doesn't get the ball in to the cutoff and we don't get the tag in the rundown, they score the tying run," said Stanley. "Trevor did a great job of getting the ball in."

Putnam plays at Glencoe this afternoon. The Kingsmen host Beaverton Friday at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader at Alder Creek Middle School, and they host Clackamas in a makeup game on Sunday.